Political Opportunities: From Tilly to Tilly

As part of a special journal forum entitled "Swiss Political Sciences Review." Chuck Tilly undoubtedly was the most prominent among those scholars who have made the concept of political opportunities so central to the field during the past thirty to forty years. In this brief essay, the author would like to discuss the use of this concept in the social movement literature as well as stress Tilly's fundamental contribution in its origin and conceptualization. After having recalled Tilly's legacy on this concept, the author will deal with the criticisms it has received. Finally, the author will mention some recent developments that have tried to avoid some of the pitfalls in the use of this concept. Kenneth Ngo